Homelessness: April 2021 to March 2022

Data on the number of households applying to local authorities for housing assistance under the Housing Wales Act 2014 and the number of households in temporary accommodation for April 2021 to March 2022.

Main points

The data may be subject to quarterly fluctuations and seasonal factors such as holidays and weather. These statistics are not seasonally adjusted.

Households threatened with homelessness

9,228 households were threatened with homelessness, an increase of 27% on 2020-21.
Homelessness was successfully prevented for at least 6 months in 67% of cases.

Homelessness prevention is where a local authority takes positive action to provide housing assistance within 56 days to someone who the authority considers is threatened with homelessness.

Homeless households owed a duty to help secure accommodation

Line chart showing number of households assessed as homeless and owed a duty to help secure accommodation, 2015-16 to 2021-22. The number decreased by 11% in 2021-22 from the previous year.

11,704 households were assessed as homeless and owed a duty to help secure accommodation, a decrease of 11% on 2020-21.
Homeless households were successfully helped to secure accommodation in 34% of cases.

Following notification that an applicant is homeless, the local authority will be under a duty (Section 73) to take reasonable steps to help to secure accommodation.

Homeless households, unintentionally homeless and in priority need

Line chart showing an increase each year in the number of households assessed as unintentionally homeless and in priority need, 2015-16 to 2021-22.

4,085 households were identified as unintentionally homeless and in priority need, an 8% increase on 2020-21.
Homeless households accepted an offer of settled suitable accommodation in 69% of cases.

If the household is homeless, has a priority need and is unintentionally homeless, the local authority will be under a duty (Section 75) to secure suitable accommodation.

Temporary accommodation

At 31 March 2022, 4,465 households were placed in temporary accommodation, an increase of 20% on March 2021.
At 31 March 2022, 1,689 households were placed in temporary B&B accommodation, an increase of 15% on March 2021.

National lockdown measures went into effect on 23 March 2020 which has affected the total of households in temporary accommodation at 31 March 2022.

One local authority was unable to provide a number of households in temporary accommodation, so the prior year figure was increased by the year-on-year change for Wales (excluding this local authority).

Further information

Additional information is available within the accompanying Quality report.

Reports